The Materials Economy is a term given to the process of how materials come to be. This term was given by a web-based documentary called “The Story of Stuff” hosted by Anne Leonard. The video explains step by step, the process of how materials are extracted from the Earth, are then produced, distributed to stores, consumed by us, and then disposed of when we are done with them. Released in December 2007, this video is known for its great clarity and its environmentalist persuasive perspective.
Anne Leonard narrarating her documentary, "The Story of Stuff". Behind her is the linear diagram of the Materials Economy.
Extraction Extraction is the process of obtaining the Earth’s natural resources in ways in which damage the Earth. Around the world, trees are being cut down, mountains are exploding in the search for all kinds of metals, animals are being slaughtered, and water is being drained (See Water Disparity). Consequently, in the last decade, around one third of the world’s natural resources have been extracted and consumed. This exploitation of natural resources has created severe damage to the Earth. For example, forty per cent of the Earth’s water is considered unsanitary and therefore, undrinkable. Although it may seem like the problem is that we’re consuming too much of the Earth’s natural resources, the actual situation is that we’re consuming too much than what is actually needed. In fact, even though U.S.A has only five per cent of the Earth’s population, they are currently using thirty per cent of the world’s natural resources. It is quite easy to see that this is a huge issue that results in severe consequences. The reality we face is that there are two thousand trees that are being cut down a minute in the Amazon. This kind of careless deforestation has resulted in eighty per cent of the world’s original forests completely gone. From a corporation’s perspective, it does not matter what the damage to the Earth is, as long as things are being extracted and put into use. It is believed that if a country does not buy or own a lot of materials and natural resources, then that country has no value to the economy. This is one of the many reasons why third world countries are being abused and neglected by the developed countries.
Production This part of the process in the Materials Economy is when the natural resources that were extracted from the Earth are now mixed with countless toxic chemicals to make the products that we buy. In fact, over six thousand synthetic chemicals are being used in the products that we purchase and only a few of them have been tested for their health impacts! Though scientists know some of their health effects, they have no idea what the health impacts are when these chemicals interact with each other. Examples of the shocking chemicals that are used to create some of the products we use are Brominated Flame Retardants (B.F.R). These chemicals are used in computers and other technological products as well as couches, mattresses, and even some pillows even though these chemicals have been proven to be toxic to the brain. There are so many chemicals in every product that it has actually gotten to the point where human breast milk holds the highest chemical toxins than any other animal’s. Another controversial and important factor when it comes to the production of materials is the use of sweatshops. Products are being created in developing countries where the pay is unethically cheap, there are hazardous working conditions and where human rights are constantly being violated. Corporations allow for this to happen because it enables the products to be created without costing a fortune and also quite quickly.
Distribution After a product is produced, it is then sent to the stores. In this step of the process, the only goal is to sell the chemical-filled products as quickly as possible. The only way to do this is by keeping the prices low for this persuades people to continue to spend money on the products, therefore keeping the inventory moving. Prices can be kept low because the store employees are not paid well and some of them even experience hazardous health risks. This is called externalized costs for the real cost of the object exceeds the price shown in the store.
Consumption The heart of the system, consumption is the use of the goods that were created above. This part of the process is so important that governments and corporations work very hard in keeping this part of the system up and running. After World War II, the governments and corporations worked together to come up with a solution in which to boost and strengthen the economy. At this time, Victor Lebow said “Our enormously productive economy… demands that we make consumption our way of life, that we convert the buying and use of goods into rituals, that we seek our spiritual satisfaction, our ego satisfaction, in consumption…we need things consumed, burned up, replaced and discarded at an ever-accelerating rate.” It was with this statement that our economy drastically changed to the point where the average amount of consumption has doubled over the past fifty years alone! This is because from that time on, the United States of America’s ultimate purpose was to create consumer goods. Out of this newfound concept, products were created in a different way. These are called Planned Obsolescence and Perceived Obsolescence. Planned Obsolescence is when products are created with a short lifespan such as coffee cups and shopping bags to computers and cell phones. Computers and other types of technology are actually created with a battery that is built to last only a few years therefore, forcing you to buy a new one when the time comes. On the other hand, Perceived Obsolescence is when the consumer is surrounded by advertisements that pressure the consumer to buy the newest and more improved product such as the numerous generations of the iPod. Coincidentally, since the obsession with consumption, national happiness has actually began to decline after its peak in 1950—the year that consumption became America’s main goal. This may be because more people are spending more time on shopping and thinking about shopping rather than spending that time on the real things that make us genuinely happy such as friends and family.
Disposal
See Global Warming for more information on this subject.
This is the last step of the Materials Economy process for it is when the products that are made, sold, and consumed are then thrown out only to be forgotten. Since the promotion of consumption, the amount of garbage we produce has sky-rocketed. In the states alone, each person makes about 4.5 lbs of garbage each day. This garbage is then either dumped into a large hole in the ground called a landfill or burned in an incinerator and then placed in a landfill. Though burning the garbage makes the waste appear smaller and assumingly easier to handle, it is really the opposite whether we see it or not. Burning garbage actually releases the many toxins that we put into the products in the production stage. In fact, when burning garbage, dioxin is produced and this is the most toxic substance that is known to man! Another way that countries get rid of garbage is by exporting it to other countries, especially the third world countries. This creates a circular cycle in which not only do we exploit the Earth’s natural resources from the third world countries, but we also trash their land by dumping our garbage onto their property. Today, the media and activists are promoting an environmental change and a huge part of this change is through recycling. The idea is that if reuse and recycle, less waste will be made and therefore, the world would be much healthier. But recycling is just not enough. This is because for every one garbage bin that is placed on the curb on any given day, seventy garbage cans were made just to produce the garbage that is within that garbage through the production and distribution process.
The Materials Economy
The Materials Economy is a term given to the process of how materials come to be. This term was given by a web-based documentary called “The Story of Stuff” hosted by Anne Leonard. The video explains step by step, the process of how materials are extracted from the Earth, are then produced, distributed to stores, consumed by us, and then disposed of when we are done with them. Released in December 2007, this video is known for its great clarity and its environmentalist persuasive perspective.
Extraction
Extraction is the process of obtaining the Earth’s natural resources in ways in which damage the Earth. Around the world, trees are being cut down, mountains are exploding in the search for all kinds of metals, animals are being slaughtered, and water is being drained (See Water Disparity). Consequently, in the last decade, around one third of the world’s natural resources have been extracted and consumed. This exploitation of natural resources has created severe damage to the Earth. For example, forty per cent of the Earth’s water is considered unsanitary and therefore, undrinkable.
Although it may seem like the problem is that we’re consuming too much of the Earth’s natural resources, the actual situation is that we’re consuming too much than what is actually needed. In fact, even though U.S.A has only five per cent of the Earth’s population, they are currently using thirty per cent of the world’s natural resources. It is quite easy to see that this is a huge issue that results in severe consequences. The reality we face is that there are two thousand trees that are being cut down a minute in the Amazon. This kind of careless deforestation has resulted in eighty per cent of the world’s original forests completely gone.
From a corporation’s perspective, it does not matter what the damage to the Earth is, as long as things are being extracted and put into use. It is believed that if a country does not buy or own a lot of materials and natural resources, then that country has no value to the economy. This is one of the many reasons why third world countries are being abused and neglected by the developed countries.
Production
This part of the process in the Materials Economy is when the natural resources that were extracted from the Earth are now mixed with countless toxic chemicals to make the products that we buy. In fact, over six thousand synthetic chemicals are being used in the products that we purchase and only a few of them have been tested for their health impacts! Though scientists know some of their health effects, they have no idea what the health impacts are when these chemicals interact with each other. Examples of the shocking chemicals that are used to create some of the products we use are Brominated Flame Retardants (B.F.R). These chemicals are used in computers and other technological products as well as couches, mattresses, and even some pillows even though these chemicals have been proven to be toxic to the brain. There are so many chemicals in every product that it has actually gotten to the point where human breast milk holds the highest chemical toxins than any other animal’s.
Another controversial and important factor when it comes to the production of materials is the use of sweatshops. Products are being created in developing countries where the pay is unethically cheap, there are hazardous working conditions and where human rights are constantly being violated. Corporations allow for this to happen because it enables the products to be created without costing a fortune and also quite quickly.
Distribution
After a product is produced, it is then sent to the stores. In this step of the process, the only goal is to sell the chemical-filled products as quickly as possible. The only way to do this is by keeping the prices low for this persuades people to continue to spend money on the products, therefore keeping the inventory moving. Prices can be kept low because the store employees are not paid well and some of them even experience hazardous health risks. This is called externalized costs for the real cost of the object exceeds the price shown in the store.
Consumption
The heart of the system, consumption is the use of the goods that were created above. This part of the process is so important that governments and corporations work very hard in keeping this part of the system up and running.
After World War II, the governments and corporations worked together to come up with a solution in which to boost and strengthen the economy. At this time, Victor Lebow said “Our enormously productive economy… demands that we make consumption our way of life, that we convert the buying and use of goods into rituals, that we seek our spiritual satisfaction, our ego satisfaction, in consumption…we need things consumed, burned up, replaced and discarded at an ever-accelerating rate.” It was with this statement that our economy drastically changed to the point where the average amount of consumption has doubled over the past fifty years alone! This is because from that time on, the United States of America’s ultimate purpose was to create consumer goods.
Out of this newfound concept, products were created in a different way. These are called Planned Obsolescence and Perceived Obsolescence. Planned Obsolescence is when products are created with a short lifespan such as coffee cups and shopping bags to computers and cell phones. Computers and other types of technology are actually created with a battery that is built to last only a few years therefore, forcing you to buy a new one when the time comes. On the other hand, Perceived Obsolescence is when the consumer is surrounded by advertisements that pressure the consumer to buy the newest and more improved product such as the numerous generations of the iPod.
Coincidentally, since the obsession with consumption, national happiness has actually began to decline after its peak in 1950—the year that consumption became America’s main goal. This may be because more people are spending more time on shopping and thinking about shopping rather than spending that time on the real things that make us genuinely happy such as friends and family.
Disposal
See Global Warming for more information on this subject.
This is the last step of the Materials Economy process for it is when the products that are made, sold, and consumed are then thrown out only to be forgotten. Since the promotion of consumption, the amount of garbage we produce has sky-rocketed. In the states alone, each person makes about 4.5 lbs of garbage each day. This garbage is then either dumped into a large hole in the ground called a landfill or burned in an incinerator and then placed in a landfill. Though burning the garbage makes the waste appear smaller and assumingly easier to handle, it is really the opposite whether we see it or not. Burning garbage actually releases the many toxins that we put into the products in the production stage. In fact, when burning garbage, dioxin is produced and this is the most toxic substance that is known to man!
Another way that countries get rid of garbage is by exporting it to other countries, especially the third world countries. This creates a circular cycle in which not only do we exploit the Earth’s natural resources from the third world countries, but we also trash their land by dumping our garbage onto their property.
Today, the media and activists are promoting an environmental change and a huge part of this change is through recycling. The idea is that if reuse and recycle, less waste will be made and therefore, the world would be much healthier. But recycling is just not enough. This is because for every one garbage bin that is placed on the curb on any given day, seventy garbage cans were made just to produce the garbage that is within that garbage through the production and distribution process.